USA · Links
Bandon Dunes
American Scotland. Five courses on the Oregon coast — all walking, no carts. The most serious golf trip on the continent for golfers who've outgrown the resort experience. Stay-and-play only.
BEST TIME TO GO
May–October
EST. COST / PERSON
$7,000–$11,000 CAD
BOOK IN ADVANCE
24–52 weeks
TRAVEL TIME
6–7h flight from Toronto
MUST-PLAY COURSES
Pacific Dunes
#2 Public Course USA (Golf Digest)
Most visually dramatic. Clifftop links over the Pacific.
Bandon Dunes
#9 Public Course USA
The original. Clifftop links. Sweeping ocean views.
Bandon Trails
#11 Public Course USA
Inland, through dunes and forest. Very different character.
Old Macdonald
#14 Public Course USA
Broadest fairways. Most forgiving. Great for higher handicappers.
Sheep Ranch
#27 Public Course USA
Newest. Limited tee times. Most exclusive on property.
WHAT A TRIP LOOKS LIKE
Arrive & Settle In
Most Toronto groups fly into Portland and rent a van for the 4-hour drive down the coast — the scenery through the Coast Range is part of the experience. Arrive in the evening, dinner at the Bandon Dunes Dining Room, and an early bed.
Pacific Dunes
Start with the crown jewel. Pacific Dunes' clifftop par-3s and sweeping ocean views set the tone for the whole trip — this is the round you'll be describing to people who weren't there. Caddies are strongly recommended; the local knowledge on the back nine winds is worth every dollar.
Bandon Dunes Course
The original course rewards a second look once you've got your sea legs. David McLay Kidd's routing along the clifftops plays very differently in morning conditions than on an afternoon when the wind comes off the water. Evening range session or head into the town of Bandon for fish and chips.
Bandon Trails
The Coore & Crenshaw inland track is the quiet genius of the property — through gorse, dunes, and stands of shore pine, with barely a glimpse of the ocean. Let the group vote on their favourite after dinner; Trails wins more than people expect.
Old Macdonald
Tom Doak and Jim Urbina's recreation of a lost C.B. Macdonald design philosophy: enormous greens, broad fairways, and a layout that is more strategically interesting than it first appears. Best option for the higher handicappers in the group without sacrificing quality.
Sheep Ranch & Depart
Sheep Ranch is the most exclusive round on the property — limited tee times and no real infrastructure, just you and the cliffs. Book it early. Day 6 is a relaxed morning, final breakfast at McKee's, and the drive back to Portland.
GROUPS 12+ — The resort handles groups well but the 5-round format gets expensive fast. Pre-negotiate a group accommodation block in the lodge or rental cottages — per-person costs drop significantly when you control the room inventory. Caddie gratuity of $90/bag is standard; build that into the trip budget from day one.
BEST MONTHS
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